On our news page, you will find the latest financial news, valuable insights and new ideas, tips and tricks we've learnt over the years and other helpful educational pieces.
By John Barton
With many self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) busy finalising their accounts for 2017-18, now is an ideal time of year for trustees to review their fund's portfolio and investment strategies in line with legal requirements and make the changes required to ensure their fund is compliant and on the right track for the coming year.
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Mr Scott Morrison, the Federal Treasurer, handed down his third Budget on 8 May 2018. Mr Morrison said the Budget is focused on further strengthening the economy to “guarantee the essentials Australians rely on” and “responsibly repair the budget”. The Budget contains a range of measures intended to ensure the integrity of the tax and superannuation system. The super highlights include:
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With 30 June 2018 rapidly approaching, now is the time to review your financial position and consider any tax or super strategies that could boost your retirement savings, maximise Government entitlements, avoid potential penalties and ultimately, reduce your tax payable.
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By David Lloyd
In the May 2017 Federal Budget announcement, new legislation was introduced whereby those aged 65 and over will be able to contribute an additional $300,000 into their superannuation upon the sale of their primary residence. These payments are referred to as ‘downsizer’ contributions...
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By Alec Berry
With housing affordability becoming increasingly challenging, many first home buyers are trying to best manage their path to the goal of owning property. To assist with these efforts, starting on 1 July 2017 a new initiative was introduced for Australians looking at getting themselves into the property market.
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By Andrew Albury
There are a number of important elements that, when planned, implemented and reviewed correctly and regularly, work together to make a self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) operate successfully. One of the most critical, and often overlooked, of these, is succession planning.
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By David Lloyd
We’re now a few months into the 2017-18 financial year and the much-discussed superannuation reforms have now been implemented, the most significant of which is the $1.6 million cap on all new and existing pension accounts. However, something we thought it worth touching on which may have been overlooked in the midst of all the changes is the use of Small Business CGT Concessions.
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MGD Director Andrew Albury has been shortlisted as one of nine finalists in the SMSF Adviser of the Year category of the Queensland 2017 SMSF and Accounting Awards. The Awards recognise individuals and businesses that are making their mark in SMSF and accounting advice by championing professionalism, quality advice and innovation...
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By Andrew Proudfoot
There is now only 13 weeks left before the Government’s new super reforms kick in. This means, there is only 13 weeks left to rethink your super strategy and make any necessary changes to ensure you get the best financial outcomes and avoid potential penalties. Time is running out.
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By David Lloyd
2017 is going to be a big year for superannuation. As end of financial year nears, we thought it worth outlining what changes you should make note of and what you can do to make sure you’re taking advantage of them before 1 July 2017.
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By John Barton
If there is one thing 2016 taught us, it is that peace of mind is a valuable thing. We are both excited and hopeful for the year to come and have shared 7 tips to help make 2017 your best financial year yet and to help you achieve peace of mind for the year to come, regardless of what events unfold this year.
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By David Lloyd
As part of their controversial suite of proposed changes to superannuation put forward in May, the Coalition announced a cap of $1.6 million on all existing and new pension accounts. Last week, these changes passed through Parliament and are now Law.
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Since the handing down of the Federal Budget in May we have been working closely with a number of SMSF advocacy bodies, including SISFA (of which I am a Director and MGD a founding member) and SMSF Owners’ Alliance, to ensure any proposed changes to SMSF policy translate into level-headed fair regulation.
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The ATO has announced that it is allowing SMSF trustees additional time to ensure that any limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs) that their fund has are on terms consistent with an arm’s length dealing, or alternatively are brought to an end. The previously announced 30 June deadline has now been extended to 31 January 2017.
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